He plays virtually every day, remaining in the lineup even with nagging injuries. He has averaged games a year in every full season since The way he goes about his business. Everything is about winning for him. I know when he came here in , he got a taste, he got a ring, but that was a special group. Now, he is off to a sluggish start, going with a 4. One of the biggest differences being cited is that he no longer has his personal catcher, McCann, who signed with Mets in the offseason.
Hard to see this suspension not reduced. The last time it was accomplished was in when Randy Johnson, Fernando Valenzuela and Terry Mulholland did the trick. Entering the weekend, no team had even a. The last time no team was playing at. He has faced batters, and only 38 of those plate appearances were with a runner on base.
In those plate appearances, he has yielded just seven singles and a walk. They entered Saturday with an record in normal nine-inning games, but in all others in extra-inning games and in seven-inning doubleheaders.
More remarkable? Those were the first plate appearances of his career. Facebook Twitter Email. The next day, it was officially over. Anyone who signs him pays only the prorated MLB minimum. I always heard the Cardinals always thought he was older or more than what he says he is. He now looks like a 50 year old man playing. And to use small sample wOBA as justification. Not a complaint. I just find it odd. This story seems manufactured. I think the media took it and ran and spun it as interest.
However, i am still in favor of Albert coming back. I doubt any contenders, besides the Cardinals… hopefully not the Cardinals, would want him in the lineup or on the bench.
Marketing and ticket sales are the only reasons someone would give him ABs. Considering he got less money in that deal, after CA taxes, it was a bad move made on emotions…or Dierdre in his ear.
I hope the Cardinals sign him the last day of the season and let him retire a Cardinal. His Cooperstown plaque will have the STL on his hat. Now he refuses to take a bench role and mentor Marsh. I think, since they are going no where anytime soon, the Tigers should sign him. Alternate him at DH and 1st base with Miggy. Might put a few more butts in the seats, and they have nothing to lose.
Just an idea. Another aging. They could sign him as a lefthanded reliever. The Cardinals were saved from a monumental blunder when Moreno swooped in with the ridiculous offer. Albert was already in a decline mode when he became a free agent. How any G M could offer someone his age probably older more than 5 or 6 years is beyond me.
I guess the system can be blamed. There was a TV deal being negotiated around that time also. Moreno believed that a Spanish speaking face of the franchise would be an invaluable marketing tool on both fronts. And I am surprised no one else has mentioned this. I live in So. Cal and at that time the fight was over which team would represent LA. Which worked out well for the Angels as ticket prices soar and attendance soared.
Plenty of older players have slotted into new teams to fill roles and be good in the clubhouse, and add a bit of productivity. Albert just became an albatross, but if his contract had been 7 and not ten years, the last three might have been better in a secondary role, and without the controversy. Pujols turned his back on the Cardinals when he excepted the angels offer he wanted out of St. Cautionary tale for anyone inking these guys to massive contracts.
I guess it really depends on what the org that signs the player expects. If they sign a player to a massive 10 year hundreds of millions of dollars knowing it is only for a handful of good seasons, then that is on them.
However, in doing such deals it more often than naught impairs the same team from building a good team around that player. In Pujols case, there was pretty much a team in St Louis that could have still made runs for Championships..
Angels could not say the same. If the deal was solely for money, then that is what Pujols got, However,I think it does a massive dis-service to the game as a whole when they guys get these guaranteed deals only to may a couple of good seasons and then be ok with being mediocre as they got theirs…. Bad optics on his part. If Pujols is willing to take on a Jason Giambiesque role with the Rockies — I could see Colorado sign him as a mentor to their young guys and a big bat off the bench.
Giambi still hit double digit homeruns in a small sample size each year with Colorado, and I could see Pujols providing something similar at the same age in Denver. Would love it if he just moved down the 5 to San Diego. Pujols would be an excellent fit. Trout raved about Pujols leadership and intangeables. Tatis could benefit similarily.
He was never going to get an offer from StL. Stupid to presume that by any beat writer. Cards almost pasted on Molina and wainwright. What you all have to remember. Baseball is a union. Albert had to set the market for all other players that year and after that. I am sure he would loved to stay, but he had to do what he did for the good of all players after him, as others did before him.
We would not have the team we do today if he would have stayed. That said I would love to kick Carpenter down and sign Albert. I believe he can DH and relieve Goldy. Just the crowd vive would spark Albert and the team. Plus I would no longer have to watch Carpenter and his terrible approach at the plate! Bottom line…for the minimum salary, the Cardinals could pick up a club house leader, a backup first basemen, a designator hitter and a valuable pinch hitter — who better to be at the plate, pressure and in the playoffs.
A risk worth taking. Carp can play first, third and even OF in a pinch. DH is only a few interleague games a year thank doorknob. Please remove that Redbird as your icon! The only way he signs with the Cardinals is for a one day retirement send off. I doubt he finds any offers to his liking. His legit probably Bat is slow. He was done 2 years ago. I get love of the game, so go coach dude. I would be VERY curious to find out which teams think that Pujols could help them in any way and would make for a worthwhile signing.
It WAS Fansided. Ranks right up with Jon Heyman in rumor-mongering. Louis because there is nowhere for Pujols to play. Pujols offers nothing to an NL team except maybe short term while a teams First Baseman recovers from injury think Rockies with Cron or Diamondbacks with Walker. Toronto is probably in on Pujols because Toronto is always in on everyone it seems. COVID still restricts in-person attendance. Pujols was never coming back to St. Louis except for a 1 day retirement deal.
Please login to leave a reply. Log in Register. Username or Email Address. There clearly would have been a place for Pujols on the Cardinals, even with Paul Goldschmidt as the everyday first baseman. Pujols has thrived off the bench in Los Angeles and could have had a similar role in St.
His playing time would have been lesser since the Dodgers needed a right-handed hitting first baseman against left-handed pitching, but having his bat as the first option off the bench instead of, say, Andrew Knizner, Lars Nootbaar or Jose Rondon would have been a very solid upgrade.
Pujols likely would have been open to it considering that one of his best friends, Yadier Molina, is still with the Cardinals. The team is still contending, too, which is what Pujols sought after being released by the Angels. Now, the Cardinals are 12 games back in the division and have less than a 4 percent chance of making the playoffs. But the decision not to sign him, let alone pursue him as a free agent, looks like an oversight by president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.
The St. Next: Cardinals Rumors: St. Redbird Rants 2 months St. Louis Cardinals: 4 possible players to promote in September. Redbird Rants 2 months The St. Louis Cardinals have almost no chance to win NL Central.
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